Adjustable window balance



Aug. 3o, 1949. R, G, ,QHNSON V2,480,476

ADJUSTABLE` WINDOW BALANCE Filed 001". 17, 1946 E /eoy 6. JOHNSON Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE WINDOW BALANCE Roy G. Johnson, Moline, Ill. Application October 17, 1946, Serial No. 703,771 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-76) The present invention relates to balances, and more particularly to an adjustable balance for window sashes and screens.

It is an object of the present invention to pro vide a balance or holder for windows and screens that is adjustable.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a balance adapted for use on new or old construction.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a resilient tensioning means.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a balance that will compensate for expansion and contraction due to weather.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a device simple in construction that may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

Other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the resilient member in a normal or unexpanded position.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view and illustrating the resilient tensioning means expanded.

Figure 6 is a n elevational view of a window sash and window frame, parts being shown fragmentarily and broken away, the balance positioned on a sash, the resilient means being in engagement with the window frame.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the resilient element illustrating the reduced end portions.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I represents the adjustable balance having a plate and a slot l2, one end I3 of the plate being disposed at right angles thereto and being provided with apertures I4 and l5, the aperture |'5 being of larger diameter than the aperture I4, for a purpose to be later described. The opposite end I6 of the plate is provided with apertures Il and an angular bracket I8 that may be secured to the plate by bolts, rivets or by welding as represented by the numeral I9. The angular portion 20 of the bracket I8 serves as a guide for the rod or bolt 32 that passes through aperture 2| in the angular portion, the aperture 2|' being equal to the aperture and in vertical alignment therewith.

Associated with the plate Il is a resilient element 22 having reduced end portions 23 and 24 of less width than the slot I2, the portions 23 a lower sash, the

and 24 passing through the slot I2. The portion 25 of the portion 23 is bent at an 'angle to the portion 23 and it is provided with an aperture 26 the diameter of which is equal tothe diameter of the aperture l5. The opposite end portion 24 is provided with a right angularly disposed portion 21 having an aperture 28, a depending portion 29 and an inturned portion 30, the portions 2l, 29 and 30 forming a channel 3|. The apertures l5, 26, 28 and 2| receive a rod or bolt 32 one end of the bolt being provided with a threaded portion 33. Housed in the channel 3| is a nut 34 that engages the threaded portion 33 of the `bolt 32, one side wall of the nut engaging the inner face of the channel 3|I that prevents the nut from' turning.

- In positioning the adjustable balance I0 as shown in Figure 6, the illustration being that of rope (not shown) is removed from the track 35 of the window sash 36. The adjustable balance IU is positioned on the sash, portions of the inner face of the plate impinging the end face 3l of the window sash, the angular portion I3 engaging the top end 38 of the sash. The balance IIJ is Xedly secured to the sash by screws 39. The adjustable rod or bolt 32 and the bracket I8 are housed in the rope track 35. As shown in Figure 6, the resilient element 22 is in engagement with the window casement jamb 40.

The balance having been secured in place in the sash 36, the rod or bolt 32 is turned in a clockwise direction, and during the turning of the rod or bolt, the nut 34 moves upwardly and during the upward movement the end 24 of element 22 is drawn upwardly and this contraction causes the element to bulge until a portion of the face of the element engages the window jamb 40. From the construction shown it can be seen that any desired tension may be obtained. In the drawings the adjustable balance is shown as afxed to the lower window sash, however I would have it understood that the device is adapted for positioning on an upper sash.

Various changes may be made in construction without departing from' the spirit of the invention or the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. A friction device to take the place of the common weight balances in a window sash or the like, comprising a plate adaptable for fixing over the rope groove in the edge of said sash and having a slot registering with said groove, a plate spring along the outside of said plate having its ends bent inwardly and passed through said slot,

and means in said groove and fixed to the inside of said plate for adjustably drawing said ends toward each other to bulge the spring outwardly and provide adjustable resilient friction means against the frame in which the sash is mounted.

2. A friction device to take the place of the common weight balance in a window sash or the like, comprising a plate adaptable for fixing over the rope groove in the edge of said sash and having a slot registering with said groove, a plate spring along the outside of said plate having its ends bent inwardly and passed through said slot, and means in said groove and xed'to the inside of said plate for adjustably drawing said ends toward each other to bulge the spring outwardly and provide adjustable resilient friction means against the frame in which the sash is mounted, said means in said groove consisting of a bolt loosely mounted in bearings at the ends of said plate and passed through openings inA said spring ends beftween said bearings, a nut on said bolt inside thebearing near the end of the bolt, the adjacent end of said spring having a lip turned over and around one sideof said nut to retain it against rotation, whereby the proper adjustment may be obtained by turning said boltM 3. In a window sash or the like having a groove in a side edge thereof, a device for providing said sash with adjustable friction with the frame, comprising a slotted plate mounted on said side edge of said sash at its upper or lower end, an ear extending from said plate along the said end of the sash, another ear extending from'said plate inwardly into said groove, said ears providing loose guide bearings for a fiat-head bolt having. its head exposed at the end of said sash, and a flat spring mounted on the outside of said plate and having ears bent inwardly thru said slot into said groove between said ears on said plate, one of said spring ears being loosely tted around said screw and the other being bent around a nut on said bolt for moving with said nut as the bolt is turned, so that by turning the bolt with a screwdriver the ends of said spring may be drawn toward each other and cause the spring to bulge out from the side edge of said sash any desired amount, to provide the necessary friction.

4. An attachment for window sash or the like wherein one side edge of the sash has a groove adjacent one end, comprising a plate adaptable to fit and be fastened over said groove and adjacent endY of said sash, a slot in said plate along said groove, an ear on said plate extending into said groove at the end of said slot, a flat spring on the outside of said plate having ears at its ends turned into said groove through said slot, a flat-head bolt passed loosely thru the portion of said plate at the end of said sash, through the ears on said spring and the ear on said plate in said groove, and a nut on said bolt adjacent one end of said spring ears, said spring ear being bent over one side of said nut to retain it from turning with said bolt and to hold it against said adjacent ear.

ROY G. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 153,232 Bates July 21, 1874 174,889 Adams Mar. 2l, 1876 875,961 Solmson Jan. '7, 1908 1,214,602 Smith Feb. 6, 1917 2,446,014 Larson July 27, 1948 

